Soft Tip for an Electronic Cigarette

ABSTRACT

A soft-tip for an electronic cigarette. The device is a soft mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette, having the tactile feel of a filter similar to a traditional cigarette without actually filtering or obstructing the aerosol created by the atomizer in the electronic cigarette. The device is a soft tip extending from an end of an electronic cigarette shell, the soft tip having a small vapor passage tube through it, the vapor passage tube being sealed with the body or shell of the electronic cigarette, the vapor passage tube being wrapped in sponge-like material and the sponge-like material being covered with paper or a sticker.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/768,240, filed Feb. 22, 2013, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to soft tips for electronic cigarettes.More specifically, to a mouthpieces that emulate the look and feel of atraditional cigarette filter without actually filtering the vaporflavoring or the nicotine vapor solution.

Current electronic cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices lackmany of the aesthetic features common to traditional cigarettes, and towhich many smokers are accustomed. Electronic cigarettes also functionmuch differently than traditional cigarettes, having an electronicatomizer rather than relying on combustion. Traditional cigarettestypically employ a sponge-like filter to prevent ash and othercombustion by-products from being inhaled by a smoker, while electroniccigarettes do not have such by-products and typically employ a hardplastic or metal tube as a mouthpiece without a filter. These electroniccigarettes do not have the same tactile feel as traditional cigarettesand, as a result, many smokers who are accustomed to the feel oftraditional cigarettes have been hesitant to adopt them. It is also notideal to place an actual filter on the end of an electronic cigarettebecause it may disrupt operation and impede the flow of vapor to thesmoker's mouth.

One of the significant problems presented in making an electroniccigarette feel like a traditional cigarette is that the internalcircuitry, sensors and atomizer assembly for an electronic cigarette arenot crushable. Additionally, electronic cigarettes have a nicotineliquid or gel that must be kept from leaking The simplest way to resolvethese two issues is to use a sealed, hard shell for the electroniccigarette, sacrificing tactile feel of the electronic cigarette forfunctionality.

Several prior art electronic cigarettes have attempted to introducefeatures to make electronic cigarettes feel to a smoker more like atraditional cigarette. For example, in U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0312313, theinventor describes adhering a padded moisture barrier around the hardshell of an electronic cigarette. This solution provides a padded feelto an electronic cigarette, but does not allow a person to crush or chewthe tip without damaging the components in the electronic cigarette.

Another approach, shown in U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0232654, is to create aremovable tip that can be attached to the body of an electroniccigarette, the tip containing a liquid storage chamber wrapped in asponge-like material. This approach does not resolve the issue ofproviding a crushable/chewable tip and may increase the potential forleakage because the person would be chewing directly on the liquidstorage container.

Another approach, shown in U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0061861, is to place apadded material at the tip of the electronic cigarette in the locationwhere a person's teeth would naturally close around the electroniccigarette. Inside the padded material is a deformable component thatflattens when a person's teeth close on it and open when the person'steeth release it. When the deformable component is not being clamped bya person's teeth, the deformable component is open and allows a vaporoutlet to remain open into the electronic cigarette. While this deviceallows a person to crush or chew the tip, the padded material is indirect contact with the vapor, which would saturate the padded materialafter repeated use and may increase the chance for leakage.Additionally, the device is complicated and may be prone to malfunction.

An earlier approach, as shown in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0254604 simply placea crushable filter on the end of a simulated cigarette. As mentionedabove, this approach is not ideal because it places an actual filter inthe path of the vapor exiting the electronic cigarette.

What is needed is a soft tip for an electronic cigarette, which iscrushable, feels like a filter but is separated from the liquid storagearea to prevent leakage, and does not allow the soft padded tip materialto contact or absorb any of the liquid vapor exiting the electroniccigarette.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The device is a soft mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette, having thetactile feel of a filter similar to a traditional cigarette withoutactually filtering or obstructing the aerosol created by the atomizer inthe electronic cigarette. The device is a soft tip extending from an endof an electronic cigarette shell, the soft tip having a smallimpermeable vapor passage tube through it, the vapor passage tube beingsealed with the body or shell of the electronic cigarette, the vaporpassage tube being wrapped in sponge-like material and the sponge-likematerial being covered with paper or a sticker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a completely assembled electronic cigarette with a softtip.

FIG. 2 shows the proximal end of the soft tip in an assembled electroniccigarette and the vapor passage tube.

FIG. 3 shows the vapor passage tube and seal apart from the soft tip.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the electronic cigarette and soft tip.

FIG. 5A shows a disassembled and exploded view of the electroniccigarette and soft tip, with the internal components removed from theshell.

FIG. 5B shows a cutaway view of the assembled electronic cigarette andsoft tip.

FIG. 6 shows a disassembled view of a soft tip with a two-piece seal andvapor passage tube.

FIG. 7 shows a disassembled view of the soft tip with a single-pieceseal and vapor passage tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the device comprises a soft tip 1 for an electroniccigarette that feels like a traditional cigarette filter in a person'smouth, which electronic cigarette, as shown in FIG. 4, has an atomizer 5and a shell 4, the atomizer 5 being inside the shell 4. As shown in FIG.1, the shell 4 has two ends, a proximal end 4A near the person's mouthand a distal end 4B away from the person's mouth. The device furthercomprises a seal cap or a gasket (“seal” 2) which fits in and closes theproximal end 4A of the shell 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the soft tip1 further comprises a vapor passage tube 11, also having a proximal end11A and a distal end 11B. The seal 2 has a hole or valve 2A in it, whichreceives and encircles the distal end 11B of the vapor passage tube 11.As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end 11B of vapor passage tube 11 connectsto the atomizer 5 located inside the shell 4. The atomizer 5 isfunctionally connected to a battery 7 and to a reservoir 55 or supplyarea for nicotine solution. The atomizer 5 vaporizes the nicotinesolution as it passes from the reservoir 55. In one embodiment, as shownin FIGS. 5A and 5B, the atomizer 5 is aligned with the vapor passagetube 11. The vapor passage tube 11 extends through the hole 2A in theseal 2 outward from the proximal end 4A of the shell 4. In oneembodiment, the vapor passage tube 11 extends between half an inch andthree quarters of an inch from the proximal end 4A of the shell 4. Asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vapor passage tube 11 and seal 2 may bemanufactured as two separate pieces, a single piece, or in the shape ofa nipple. In one embodiment, the vapor passage tube 11 is impermeable toliquid, air, vapor and aerosol. In one embodiment, the vapor passagetube 11 is incollapsible. In one embodiment, the vapor passage tube 11is wrapped in a cotton batting, polyester fiber (e.g. EV Polyesterfiber) or some other sponge-like or spongy material (“sponge-likematerial”) 3. During operation, vapor travels from the atomizer 5through the vapor passage tube 11. The vapor passage tube 11 does notneed to be in the center of the sponge-like material 3. The sponge-likematerial 3 may be glued or adhered to the vapor passage tube 11 to holdthe sponge-like material 3 in place. The entire assembled electroniccigarette (shell 4 and soft mouthpiece) is wrapped in paper, a sticker,plastic or some other outer covering 6 creating a soft mouthpiece forthe electronic cigarette extending from the proximal end 4A of the shell4 that simulates the feel of a traditional cigarette filter andsimulates the overall feel/aesthetic of a traditional cigarette. Thesoft tip 1 may also be wrapped separately from the shell 4 of theelectronic cigarette. Alternatively, the soft tip 1 device may be usedwith other smoking devices other than an electronic cigarette, such asan inhaler or a pipe.

During operation of the electronic cigarette, when a person sucks on thesoft tip 1, the aerosol passes from the reservoir 55 to the electroniccigarette's atomizer 5 to the person through the vapor passage tube 11.The vapor passage tube 11 protrudes from electronic cigarette through aseal 2, the seal having a hole 2A, and being located on the proximal end4A of the shell 4. The seal 2 only permits liquids, air, vapor andaerosol to exit the electronic cigarette through the vapor passage tube11 and prevents them from passing through the impermeable walls of thevapor passage tube 11.

The device may be any height and any width, so long as it isproportional to the electronic cigarette to which it is attached. Theseal 2 may be made of metal, plastic, stainless steel and elastomers orother materials that will keep a seal inside the shell 4 between theshell 4 and the vapor passage tube 11. The vapor passage tube 11 may bemade of metal, plastic, stainless steel, PVC or any other materials thatare incollapsible or that will not crush easily. The outer covering 6may also be treated with glitter, fur, leather or other decorative ornon-slip grip elements.

Embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of thoseembodiments may become apparent to those having ordinary skill in theart upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect thatskilled artisans will employ such variations as appropriate, and theinventors intend for the invention to be practiced other than asspecifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes allmodifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in theclaims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, anycombination of the above-described elements in all possible variationshereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated hereinor otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

While the disclosure above sets forth the principles of the presentinvention, with the examples given for illustration only, one shouldrealize that the use of the present invention includes all usualvariations, adaptations and/or modifications within the scope of theclaims attached as well as equivalents thereof.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patentscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each reference was individually and specifically indicated to beincorporated by reference and was set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing an invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., “including, but notlimited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges as valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it was individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention (i.e.,“such as, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing that variousadaptations and modifications of the just described embodiments can beconfigured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced other than as specificallydescribed herein.

What claimed is:
 1. An electronic cigarette device comprising: a shellwith a proximal end and a distal end; a reservoir of nicotine solution;an atomizer assembly to aerosolize the nicotine solution, a batteryfunctionally connected to the atomizer, a soft tip at the proximal endof the shell, said soft tip comprising an impenetrable vapor passagetube having a proximal and distal end and a seal having a hole, saidseal encircling the distal end of the vapor passage tube and said vaporpassage tube passing through the seal and connected to the atomizer; anda sponge-like material wrapped around the vapor passage tube to simulatethe feel of a filter of a tobacco-based cigarette.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising an outer covering.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the outer covering is paper.
 4. The device of claim 1, whereinthe outer covering is a sticker.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein thesponge-like material is polyester fiber.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein the vapor passage tube is incollapsible.
 7. The device of claim1, wherein the vapor passage tube is impermeable.
 8. The device of claim1, wherein the seal and the vapor passage tube are a single piece. 9.The device of claim 1, wherein the seal and the vapor passage tube aretwo separate pieces.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the seal and thevapor passage tube form the shape of a nipple.
 11. The device of claim1, wherein the vapor passage tube is between half an inch and threequarters of an inch long.
 12. The device of claim 1, further comprisinga permanent attachment between the sponge-like material and the vaporpassage tube.
 13. The permanent attachment of claim 12, wherein theattachment comprises glue.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the outercovering is in two pieces to wrap the sponge-like material and the shellseparately.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer assembly islocated within the shell.
 16. The device of claim 1, further comprisingan LED light to simulate a lit cigarette.
 17. The device of claim 1,further comprising an end cap removably attached to the distal end ofthe shell.
 18. The device of claim 1, further comprising an outercovering surrounding the sponge-like material.
 19. The device of claim2, the outer cover further comprising a non-slip grip.
 20. A method ofsimulating the look and feel of a tobacco-based cigarette comprising:Wrapping an impermeable vapor passage tube of an electronic cigarette ina sponge-like material, said electronic cigarette comprising a shellwith a proximal end and a distal end; a reservoir of nicotine solution;an atomizer assembly to aerosolize nicotine, said atomizer connected tothe vapor passage tube, a battery functionally connected to theatomizer, a seal having a hole, said seal encircling the distal end ofthe vapor passage tube, an outer covering surrounding the sponge-likematerial and shell tube; Wherein the electronic cigarette simulates thelook and feel of a tobacco-based cigarette.
 21. The method of claim 20,further comprising an outer covering.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the outer covering is paper.
 23. The method of claim 20, whereinthe outer covering is a sticker.
 24. The method of claim 20, wherein thesponge-like material is polyester fiber.
 25. The method of claim 20,wherein the seal and the vapor passage tube are a single piece.
 26. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the seal and the vapor passage tube are twoseparate pieces.
 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the seal and thevapor passage tube form the shape of a nipple.
 28. The method of claim20, wherein the vapor passage tube is between half an inch and threequarters of an inch long.
 29. The method of claim 20, further comprisinga permanent attachment between the sponge-like material and the vaporpassage tube.
 30. The device of claim 29, wherein the attachmentcomprises glue.
 31. The device of claim 20, wherein the outer coveringis in two pieces to wrap the sponge-like material and shell separately.32. The method of claim 20, wherein the atomizer assembly is locatedwithin the shell.
 33. The device of claim 20, further comprising an LEDlight to simulate a lit cigarette,
 34. The device of claim 20, furthercomprising an end cap removably attached to the distal end of the shell.35. The device of claim 20, further comprising an outer coveringsurrounding the sponge-like material.
 36. The device of claim 20, theouter covering further comprising a non-slip grip.